Southen Peru Tour 1

Arrival in Lima, reception at the airport and transfer by private car to your hotel. Eg Ferre Miraflores

Hotel Ferre Miraflores

After breakfast, morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuzco.
After the hour long flight, arrival to Cuzco, reception and transfer to your hotel.
Eg. Los Andes
Free morning to take a leisurely walk around the ancient capital of the Incas or to acclimatize to the high altitude setting. After lunch (not included), a tour of the city of Cuzco; including the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. You shall also visit the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red fortress of Puca-Pucara, and Tambomachay. After the tour, return to your hotel.

Hotel Los Andes   |  Meals: B

After breakfast, excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Inca situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The Sacred Valley is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and still remains the larder of Cuzco. Visit the village of Pisac, and visit the ruins above the town. This site attracts few visitors. Transfer to restaurant. After lunch, the trip continues to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish. Return to your hotel in Cuzco. A briefing on the up and coming Inca Trail

Meals: B & L

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by bus where you will meet with your Quechua porters and prepare for the Inca Trail.
You will cross over the turbulent Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevado Veronica (5,900m/19,000ft) and continue along the trek admiring the Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at the Huayllabamba River for lunch. After lunch, we will visit the archeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and the valley of Cusichaca along with the magical Polylepsis forest before continuing the hike. Our hiking today will last approximately 7 hours. Upon arriving to our campsite, dinner. Overnight camping on the trail.

Meals: B, L & D

An early start today as this is the most demanding day of the entire trek and we shall gain considerable altitude. We will see outstanding views to the east of the Huayanay peaks and to the west of the rugged Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we shall begin the climb up through the first pass at 4200 m/13,750 feet at Warmiwanusqa. Passing 3 ecological zones such as the Yunga, Quechua and Puna, we shall ascend 1000 metres in 5 hours. Lunch will be taken before the final two sections of ascent. Upon reaching the summit of Dead Woman's Pass, we shall celebrate our achievement by paying homage to the Apus or mountain gods, before descending into camp. Dinner and overnight camping on the trail.

Meals: B, L & D

After breakfast, we shall begin the ascent of the second pass, although still demanding, this is easier than the previous day's ascent. A visit to the famous archaeological site of Runquraqay. We will continue on to the restored town site of Sayaqmarka ("Town in a Steep Place") and explore the Sayaqmarka Ruins, admiring at the same time the fabulous cloud forest which is now all around us. The third pass of the Inca Trail in this section is a long white granite roadway, with some ascents and descents traversing a thickly forested mountainside. We will finally descend to the magnificent archeological site of Phuyupatamarka ("Cloud Level Town") where a fine lunch will await us. After lunch, we will then begin the decent to Winaywayna, an outstanding Inca complex built into the mountainside. A visit of the ruins. After relaxing, we shall enjoy dinner carefully prepared by our chef. We shall also meet with our porters for the very last time and exchange thanks and talk about the ancient paths upon which we have trekked for the last few days. Overnight camping on the trail.

Meals: B, L & D

Early morning wake up at 4:30 AM for breakfast and to begin the final trek to Intipunku, and the first site of the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat. Orchids and hummingbirds are commonly seen along this spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at Intipunko "Gate of the Sun" to observe the sunrise over Machu Picchu from an elevated vantage point. We will then continue down to the royal road and at last the "Lost City of the Incas".
We then immediately begin our tour of Machu Picchu. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants and a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city holds houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square and all connected by narrow roads and steps, which is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. We shall visit the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the guided tour, you can enjoy an afternoon of self-exploration and discovery. Trip down to Aguas Calientes and accommodation. Free evening. Eg. Sanctuario

Meals: B

After breakfast, return to the Machu Picchu complex for personal appreciation. Lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge before returning to Aguas Calientes for our Vistadome train to Cuzco. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation for your last night in the Inca capital.

Meals: B & L

Tourist bus journey across the stunning altiplano to Puno. Lying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, Puno is also the folkloric capital of Peru. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Eg. Colon Hotel

Colon Hotel   |   Meals: B & L

Full day excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile. Uros, a group of islands made entirely of tortora reeds is home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. The inhabitants of Taquile are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. Return to Puno and to your hotel.

Meals: B & L

After breakfast, journey to the pre-inca Sillustani funeral towers next to the Umayo lake. The towers form part of one of the largest and most important necropolis in the world. Used by both the Altiplano civilisation and the Incas and their wives "Collas" to honour their dead and in preparation for the after-life. It was abandoned when the first Spanish arrived. With over ninety chulpas (tombs), all built from volcanic rock, those for the Incas can be easily recognised by their finer detail. Transfer to Juliaca airport for the flight back to Arequipa. Reception and transfer to your hotel.
Eg. Tierra Sur

Tierra Sur   |   Meals: B & L

After breakfast, a guided tour of the white city, so-called because many of the buildings are made of volcanic sillar. Visit to the Chilina valley and the old San Lazaro district with a general view of the city from the Yanahuara Belvedere. There are marvellous views including the imposing Misti Volcano overlooking the city. A visit to the Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral, the cloisters of La Compañia Church, the Church and Square of San Francisco and the extraordinary Santa Catalina convent which is built from volcanic lava and dates from the 16th century. A visit will also be made to the museum to see Juanita, the finest-preserved mummy in South America. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast, early departure in your vehicle with a guide, passing the thermal baths of Yura and climbing up towards the National Reserve of Pampa de Cañahuas at 3800m. Here groups of alpacas, vicuñas and sometimes-even guanacos can be seen. After driving several hours more, the descent to the Colca Valley begins. On the way, if time permits, you shall visit some caves to see prehistoric drawings before arriving at Callalli, where huge rock formations resembling medieval castles are found and onward to Sibayo, a small village with a primitive church, on the Colca River. The trip continues down the valley, passing next to several villages until you arrive at Chivay, the most important town of the valley. Accommodation in the Colca Valley itself.
Eg. Colca Lodge

Hotel Colca Lodge   |   Meals: B

After breakfast an early departure to descend into the valley to visit some of the villages, all of which have beautiful, colonial-style churches. You shall also see the Inca terraces, some of which are still in use and can be seen all along the valley. Start the ascent up to the Cruz del Condor, a few kilometres before Cabanaconde. Here one can appreciate a fine view of the flight of the condors as well as of the depth of the canyon. Return to your hotel in Arequipa.

Meals: B

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and connecting flight home.

Meals: B